raqataq

Hey, I have started up a 20 gal tank and I have a combo in mind for it but wanted to run it by a few people and get an opinion before i go buy fish. I would like to have 6 Cardinal Tetras, 4 Long-finned Zeb. Danios, 1 Corydoras and 1 African Dwarf Frog. Will the Danios get along with the Cardinal Tetras? Also, I could go without the frog if need be but I really like the little guys and would be willing to clean more often to have him in there. Any suggestions or opinions would be great, thanks.

Howeyg

i think thats to much if you do 1 inch to 1 gallon you overstock by 3 inches

Howeyg

all of the fish will live together i think theres just too many for a 20 gallon tank i think if you take the the frog away it wont matter if your 2 inches over. im not sure though

raqataq

I have figured 2" for each Danio so 8" there, 1.5" for the Cardinal Tetras (I know they are listed on this site as reaching 2" but I have heard elsewhere that they stay closer to 1.5") so 9" more for 17" total. Add 2.5" for the Corydoras Catfish for 19.5" and the African Dwarf frog is 1.5" bringing the grand total to 21" of fish for the 20 gal. of water, maybe a hair overstocked but like I said, I'm willing handle the minor increase in cleaning frequency. What I am more concerned about is the overall compatibility of this proposed group. Also, will any of these ravage my plants? Thanks again.

Howeyg

all right ok i think your good to go, none of these fish will ruin your plants and if your willing to do the extra cleaning then thats all good with me

COBettaCouple

The problem with this group might be the Danios. They tend to be nippers in groups of under 6 and there is a good chance your concerns for them and the cardinals is valid. It's probably 50/50 if they'd get along or not.

vin

Personally, I would choose to decrease the number of tetras to 4 and choose between the tetras and danios...Then increase the corys to 2-3 as they prefer to be in numbers of 3 or more....Maybe choose the either 4 tetras or 4 danios, then perhaps add 2 female platys?

So if you go this way:

4 Danios = 8
2 Platys = 5
2 corys = 5
1 frog = 1.5
total = 19.5

or

4 tetras = 6
2 platys = 5
3 corys = 7.5
1 frog = 1.5
Total = 20

raqataq

This has all been very helpful. Thanks to all who have already given advice and please don't stop. If you want to chime in with some other advice I'd love to hear it because I'm not going to start adding fish for at least two more days. Thanks again!

raqataq

Ok, new idea. 5 Card. Tetras, 2 Corys, 2 Dwarf Gourami (1m, 1f), and the frog. This makes an even 20" of fish in my 20gal. and I think they should all get along just fine. Good idea bad idea?

COBettaCouple

I'm not a real tetra expert, but that sounds like a good arrangement to me.

vin

I would go with 1 dwarf gourami....Although you'll read that pairs will get along, many times unless you outnumber the male, the female may be bullied.

Scotti

Do you know what? Even though you are a tiny bit overstocked, I don't think it's a problem. It sounds like you are sold on your combination of fish, and I think that sometimes, even though there might be a concern for a compatibility, you should still try it. You never know. I have found that if you get your fish, one species, about a week apart, and therefore approximately the same time, that they have a good chance of getting along. Sometimes I find more of a problem in an established tank, where I am bringing someone new to the tank, and their whole "chemistry" get thrown.
Good Luck, sounds good to me.

Kevin

unless you HAVE to have the frog, i would take it out and get another female dwarf, that would be a really colorful tank, and they would do really good together

another suggestion...just to see if you like it...
-2 German Blue Rams(sometimes a little picky about water conditions)
-2 cory cats
-1 red tailed black shark/rainbow shark

vin

One thing I wouldn't chance is Rams or any other type of cichlids with sharks.......IMO you're just tempting fate.

raqataq

Thanks for the ideas. I have one male flame dwarf gourami, 2 cory cats, and a mickey mouse platy in so far and they are all doing great. I plan on slowly adding the tetras (5 or 6 Cardinal or Glow-light) in a week or so after my tank re-settles but i can't wait and that will be the final line up.